1
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Chen X, Su J, Cheng S, Huang C, Zhao C, Teng C, Zhang P. Mechanically robust ultrathin nanofibrous films by using microfluidic-based continuous printing. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:5103-5113. [PMID: 39109831 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00487f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Ultrathin nanofibrous films with unique properties, such as controlled thickness, structures, and excellent mechanical robustness, play a vital role in flexible wearable devices, electronic skin, and rechargeable batteries. However, nanofibrous films are always facing limitations in their mechanical properties, even though they are strong when used as textiles, mainly owing to their structural shortcomings by using conventional fabrication methods. Herein, we present the fabrication of free-standing ultrathin nanofibrous films with good mechanical properties by using a microfluidic-based continuous printing strategy. Owing to the precisely controllable microfluidic flow in the micrometre-scale, the resulting aramid nanofibre (ANF) films can reach thicknesses as low as 140 ± 25 nm. Specifically, the tensile strength of such ultrathin ANF films is recorded at an impressive value of 667 ± 40 MPa, representing a 120% improvement compared to the films prepared by using casting method. Such excellent mechanical robustness comes from the double-sided protonation, which shows a symmetrically dense structure compared to the asymmetric structure of cast films. Furthermore, we demonstrate the continuous fabrication of thin regenerated cellulose nanofiber (RCNF) and cellulose diacetate (CDA) films using the microfluidic-based printing strategy. Both microfluidic-based films show significant enhancements in strength, with a 42% increase for RCNF and a 94% increase for CDA compared to their cast films. We envision that this microfluidic-based continuous printing strategy provides a promising pathway for the development of advanced ultrathin nanofibrous films towards practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Wuhan University of Technology Xiangyang Demonstration Zone, Xiangyang 441000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Jiaqing Su
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sha Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chunxia Zhao
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Wuhan University of Technology Xiangyang Demonstration Zone, Xiangyang 441000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chao Teng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
| | - Pengchao Zhang
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Wuhan University of Technology Xiangyang Demonstration Zone, Xiangyang 441000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya 572024, China
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2
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Lin YC, Chen HH, Chu CW, Yeh LH. Massively Enhanced Charge Selectivity, Ion Transport, and Osmotic Energy Conversion by Antiswelling Nanoconfined Hydrogels. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:11756-11762. [PMID: 39236070 PMCID: PMC11421088 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Developing a nanofluidic membrane with simultaneously enhanced ion selectivity and permeability for high-performance osmotic energy conversion has largely been unexplored. Here, we tackle this issue by the confinement of highly space-charged hydrogels within an orderedly aligned nanochannel array membrane. The nanoconfinement effect endows the hydrogel-based membrane with excellent antiswelling property. Furthermore, experimental and simulation results demonstrate that such a nanoconfined hydrogel membrane exhibits massively enhanced cation selectivity and ion transport properties. Consequently, an amazingly high power density up to ∼52.1 W/m2 with an unprecedented energy conversion efficiency of 37.5% can be reached by mixing simulated salt-lake water (5 M NaCl) and river water (0.01 M NaCl). Both efficiency indexes surpass those of most of the state-of-the-art nanofluidic membranes. This work offers insights into the design of highly ion-selective membranes to achieve ultrafast ion transport and high-performance osmotic energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chuan Lin
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Hsu Chen
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wei Chu
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsien Yeh
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
- Advanced
Manufacturing Research Center, National
Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
- Graduate
Institute of Energy and Sustainability Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
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3
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Yang ZJ, Yeh LH, Peng YH, Chuang YP, Wu KCW. Enhancing Ionic Selectivity and Osmotic Energy by Using an Ultrathin Zr-MOF-Based Heterogeneous Membrane with Trilayered Continuous Porous Structure. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202408375. [PMID: 38847272 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202408375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Designing a nanofluidic membrane with high selectivity and fast ion transport property is the key towards high-performance osmotic energy conversion. However, most of reported membranes can produce power density less than commercial benchmark (5 W/m2), due to the imbalance between ion selectivity and permeability. Here, we report a novel nanoarchitectured design of a heterogeneous membrane with an ultrathin and dense zirconium-based UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic framework (MOF) layer and a highly aligned and interconnected branched alumina nanochannel membrane. The design leads to a continuous trilayered pore structure of large geometry gradient in the sequence from angstrom-scale to nano-scale to sub-microscale, which enables the enhanced directional ion transport, and the angstrom-sized (~6.6-7 Å) UiO-66-NH2 windows render the membrane with high ion selectivity. Consequently, the novel heterogeneous membrane can achieve a high-performance power of ~8 W/m2 by mixing synthetic seawater and river water. The power density can be largely upgraded to an ultrahigh ~17.1 W/m2 along with ~48.5 % conversion efficiency at a 50-fold KCl gradient. This work not only presents a new membrane design approach but also showcases the great potential of employing the zirconium-based MOF channels as ion-channel-mimetic membranes for highly efficient blue energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Jie Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsien Yeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Center, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsiang Peng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Chuang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Kevin C-W Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institute, Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli City, 350, Taiwan
- Center of Atomic Initiative for New Materials (AI-MAT), National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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4
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Tang J, Wang Y, Yang H, Zhang Q, Wang C, Li L, Zheng Z, Jin Y, Wang H, Gu Y, Zuo T. All-natural 2D nanofluidics as highly-efficient osmotic energy generators. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3649. [PMID: 38684671 PMCID: PMC11058229 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional nanofluidics based on naturally abundant clay are good candidates for harvesting osmotic energy between the sea and river from the perspective of commercialization and environmental sustainability. However, clay-based nanofluidics outputting long-term considerable osmotic power remains extremely challenging to achieve due to the lack of surface charge and mechanical strength. Here, a two-dimensional all-natural nanofluidic (2D-NNF) is developed as a robust and highly efficient osmotic energy generator based on an interlocking configuration of stacked montmorillonite nanosheets (from natural clay) and their intercalated cellulose nanofibers (from natural wood). The generated nano-confined interlamellar channels with abundant surface and space negative charges facilitate selective and fast hopping transport of cations in the 2D-NNF. This contributes to an osmotic power output of ~8.61 W m-2 by mixing artificial seawater and river water, higher than other reported state-of-the-art 2D nanofluidics. According to detailed life cycle assessments (LCA), the 2D-NNF demonstrates great advantages in resource consumption (1/14), greenhouse gas emissions (1/9), and production costs (1/13) compared with the mainstream 2D nanofluidics, promising good sustainability for large-scale and highly-efficient osmotic power generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Hongyang Yang
- Institute of Circular Economy, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China.
| | - Ce Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Leyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Zilong Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China.
| | - Yuhong Jin
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
| | - Yifan Gu
- Institute of Circular Economy, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China.
| | - Tieyong Zuo
- Institute of Circular Economy, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
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5
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Zhang S, Wang J, Yaroshchuk A, Du Q, Xin P, Bruening ML, Xia F. Addressing Challenges in Ion-Selectivity Characterization in Nanopores. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38606686 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Ion selectivity is the basis for designing smart nanopore/channel-based devices, e.g., ion separators and biosensors. Quantitative characterization of ion selectivities in nanopores often employs the Nernst or Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation to interpret transmembrane potentials. However, the direction of the measured transmembrane potential drop is not specified in these equations, and selectivity values calculated using absolute values of transmembrane potentials do not directly reveal the ion for which the membrane is selective. Moreover, researchers arbitrarily choose whether to use the Nernst or GHK equation and overlook the significant differences between them, leading to ineffective quantitative comparisons between studies. This work addresses these challenges through (a) specifying the transmembrane potential (sign) and salt concentrations in terms of working and reference electrodes and the solutions in which they reside when using the Nernst and GHK equations, (b) reporting of both Nernst-selectivity and GHK-selectivity along with solution compositions and transmembrane potentials when comparing different nanopores/channels, and (c) performing simulations to define an ideal selectivity for nanochannels. Experimental and modeling studies provide significant insight into these fundamental equations and guidelines for the development of nanopore/channel-based devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouwei Zhang
- National Local Joint Laboratory for Advanced Textile Processing and Clean Production, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- National Local Joint Laboratory for Advanced Textile Processing and Clean Production, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Andriy Yaroshchuk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia-Barcelona Tech, Avenida Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- ICREA, pg.L.Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Qiujiao Du
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Pengyang Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Merlin L Bruening
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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6
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Guo Y, Sun X, Ding S, Lu J, Wang H, Zhu Y, Jiang L. Charge-Gradient Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) Membrane with Enhanced Ion Selectivity for Osmotic Energy Conversion. ACS NANO 2024; 18:7161-7169. [PMID: 38380884 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Engineered asymmetric heterogeneous ion-selective membranes have become a focal point for their improved efficiency in harnessing osmotic energy from ionic solutions with varying salinity. However, achieving both energy conversion efficiency and excellent chemical stability necessitates effectively mitigating the formation of detrimental interface cracks between two different layers. We develop a charge-gradient sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane (CG-SPEEK) on a large-scale using a straightforward coating method. As an osmotic energy generator, CG-SPEEK membrane achieves an impressive output power density of 9.2 W m-2 and exhibits ultrahigh cation selectivity (0.99), with an energy conversion efficiency of 48% at a 50-fold NaCl concentration gradient. The results highlight the ion diode effects of CG-SPEEK, driven by a charge density gradient that accelerates cation transport while suppressing ion concentration polarization. Density functional theory simulations provide further insights, revealing that the energy barrier for Na+ ion transport through CG-SPEEK membrane is lower than that through a homogeneous SPEEK membrane. This work not only enhances our understanding of ion transport dynamics but also establishes the CG-SPEEK membrane as a promising candidate for efficient osmotic energy conversion applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Xiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shaosong Ding
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Huanting Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Ying Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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7
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Lin C, Hao J, Zhao J, Hou Y, Ma S, Sui X. A facile strategy for the preparation of carbon nanotubes/polybutadiene crosslinked composite membrane and its application in osmotic energy harvesting. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 654:840-847. [PMID: 37898068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
The osmotic energy between riverine water and seawater can be converted into electricity by reverse electrodialysis (RED). However, the facile fabrication of advanced RED membranes with high energy conversion efficiencies, large areas, and excellent mechanical properties remains a challenge. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit excellent conductivity and provide suitable channels for ion transport but cannot form membranes independently, which limits the related applications in osmotic energy conversion. Herein, a new organic-inorganic composite membrane is prepared by combining hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as a matrix and carbon nanotubes as transport nanochannels. The nanotubes are pre-subjected to plasma treatment to increase the surface charge density and transport capacity of the nanochannels, improving the ion selectivity and energy conversion efficiency. Under actual seawater/river water conditions, the developed membrane delivers a power density of ∼5.1 W/m2 and shows good mechanical strength (219 MPa). Our work provides a facile solution to the problem posed by the inability of ideal nanochannels to form membranes independently and paves the way for the application of RED membranes in osmotic energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuncai Lin
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinlin Hao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiawei Zhao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yushuang Hou
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuhui Ma
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Sui
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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8
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Li L, Yang G, Lyu J, Sheng Z, Ma F, Zhang X. Folk arts-inspired twice-coagulated configuration-editable tough aerogels enabled by transformable gel precursors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8450. [PMID: 38114508 PMCID: PMC10730912 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aerogels, as famous lightweight and porous nanomaterials, have attracted considerable attention in various emerging fields in recent decades, however, both low density and weak mechanical performance make their configuration-editing capability challenging. Inspired by folk arts, herein we establish a highly efficient twice-coagulated (TC) strategy to fabricate configuration-editable tough aerogels enabled by transformable gel precursors. As a proof of concept, aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are selected as the main components of aerogel, among which PVA forms a flexible configuration-editing gel network in the first coagulation process, and ANF forms a configuration-locking gel network in the second coagulation process. TC strategy guarantees the resulting aerogels with both high toughness and feasible configuration editing capability individually or simultaneously. Altogether, the resulting tough aerogels with special configuration through soft to hard modulation provide great opportunities to break through the performance limits of the aerogels and expand application areas of aerogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Li
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Guandu Yang
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics (Ministry of Education), School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Jing Lyu
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Zhizhi Sheng
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Fengguo Ma
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics (Ministry of Education), School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xuetong Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China.
- Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK.
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9
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Zhang Y, Wang H, Wang J, Li L, Sun H, Wang C. Asymmetric Nanoporous Alumina Membranes for Nanofluidic Osmotic Energy Conversion. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202300876. [PMID: 37886875 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202300876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The potential of harnessing osmotic energy from the interaction between seawater and river water has been recognized as a promising, eco-friendly, renewable, and sustainable source of power. The reverse electrodialysis (RED) technology has gained significant interest for its ability to generate electricity by combining concentrated and diluted streams with different levels of salinity. Nanofluidic membranes with tailored ion transport dynamics enable efficient harvesting of renewable osmotic energy. In this regard, anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with abundant nanochannels provide a cost-effective nanofluidic platform to obtain structures with a high density of ordered pores. AAO can be utilized in constructing asymmetric composite membranes with enhanced ion flux and selectivity to improve output power generation. In this review, we first present the fundamental structure and properties of AAO, followed by summarizing the fabrication techniques for asymmetric membranes using AAO and other nanostructured materials. Subsequently, we discuss the materials employed in constructing asymmetric structures incorporating AAO while emphasizing how material selection and design can resist and promote efficient energy conversion. Finally, we provide an outlook on future applications and address the challenges that need to be overcome for successful osmotic energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Huijie Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lulu Li
- College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212000, P.R. China
| | - Hanjun Sun
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chen Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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10
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Duan R, Zhou J, Ma X, Hao J, Zhao D, Teng C, Zhou Y, Jiang L. High Strength MXene/PBONF Heterogeneous Membrane with Excellent Ion Selectivity for Efficient Osmotic Energy Conversion. NANO LETTERS 2023. [PMID: 38032845 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Layered MXene nanofluidic membranes still face the problems of low mechanical property, poor ion selectivity, and low output power density. In this work, we successfully constructed heterostructured membranes with the combination of the layered channels of the MXene layer on the top and the nanoscale poly(p-phenylene-benzodioxazole) nanofiber (PBONF) layer on the bottom through a stepwise filtration method. The as-prepared MXene/PBONF-50 heterogeneous membrane exhibits high mechanical properties (strength of 221.6 MPa, strain of 3.2%), high ion selectivity of 0.87, and an excellent output power density of 15.7 W/m2 at 50-fold concentration gradient. Excitingly, the heterogeneous membrane presents a high power density of 6.8 W/m2 at a larger testing area of 0.79 mm2 and long-term stability. This heterogeneous membrane construction provides a viable strategy for the enhancement of mechanical properties and osmotic energy conversion of 2D materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runyu Duan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Jiale Zhou
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Junran Hao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Danying Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Chao Teng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Yahong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- Binzhou Institute of Technology, Weiqiao-UCAS Science and Technology Park, Binzhou City, Shandong Province 256606, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
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11
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Liu CW, Hsu JP. Enhancing the performance of a cylindrical nanopore in osmotic power generation through designing the waveform of its inner surface. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:28363-28372. [PMID: 37842817 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03637e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Recently, nanofluidic osmotic power, a promising technology converting the salinity difference between brine and fresh water into electricity using nanopores, has drawn the attention of researchers. Previous studies in this field were based mainly on nanopores having a smooth inner surface. To enhance the performance of nanofluidic osmotic power, we investigated four types of cylindrical nanopores, each with a unique waveform wall design (square, saw-tooth, triangle, and sine waves). This study focused on elucidating the influence of bulk salt concentration and geometric characteristics at the solid-liquid interface. We demonstrated that the presence of a waveform wall introduces new variables that have a significant impact on the overall performance of a nanofluidic osmotic power system. At the optimal amplitude of the waveform wall, raising waveform frequency can remarkably improve the osmotic current, diffusion potential, maximum power, and maximum efficiency. The present study provides a novel aspect of osmotic power, where the geometric nature of the nanopore reveals profound and intriguing phenomena primarily attributed to the distribution of ions within its interior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Wei Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Jyh-Ping Hsu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
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12
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Zhang X, Li M, Zhang F, Li Q, Xiao J, Lin Q, Qing G. Robust Cellulose Nanocrystal-Based Self-Assembled Composite Membranes Doped with Polyvinyl Alcohol and Graphene Oxide for Osmotic Energy Harvesting. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2304603. [PMID: 37635120 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Osmotic energy from the salinity gradients represents a promising energy resource with stable and sustainable characteristics. Nanofluidic membranes can be considered as powerful alternatives to the traditional low-performance ion exchange membrane to achieve high-efficiency osmotic energy harvesting. However, the development of a highly efficient and easily scalable core membrane component from low-cost raw materials remains challenging. Here, a composite membrane based on the self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes as additives is developed to provide a solution. The introduction of soft PVA polymer significantly improves the mechanical strength and water stability of the composite membrane by forming a nacre-like structure. Benefiting from the abundant negative charges of CNC nanorods and GO nanoflakes and the generated network nanochannels, the composite membrane demonstrates a good cation-selective transport capacity, thus contributing to an optimal osmotic energy conversion of 6.5 W m-2 under a 100-fold salinity gradient and an exemplary stability throughout 25 consecutive days of operation. This work provides an option for the development of nanofluidic membranes that can be easily produced on a large scale from well-resourced and sustainable biomass materials for high-efficiency osmotic energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Minmin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Qiongya Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Jie Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Qiwen Lin
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Guangyan Qing
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
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13
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Rastgar M, Moradi K, Burroughs C, Hemmati A, Hoek E, Sadrzadeh M. Harvesting Blue Energy Based on Salinity and Temperature Gradient: Challenges, Solutions, and Opportunities. Chem Rev 2023; 123:10156-10205. [PMID: 37523591 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Greenhouse gas emissions associated with power generation from fossil fuel combustion account for 25% of global emissions and, thus, contribute greatly to climate change. Renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, have reached a mature stage, with costs aligning with those of fossil fuel-derived power but suffer from the challenge of intermittency due to the variability of wind and sunlight. This study aims to explore the viability of salinity gradient power, or "blue energy", as a clean, renewable source of uninterrupted, base-load power generation. Harnessing the salinity gradient energy from river estuaries worldwide could meet a substantial portion of the global electricity demand (approximately 7%). Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and reverse electrodialysis (RED) are more prominent technologies for blue energy harvesting, whereas thermo-osmotic energy conversion (TOEC) is emerging with new promise. This review scrutinizes the obstacles encountered in developing osmotic power generation using membrane-based methods and presents potential solutions to overcome challenges in practical applications. While certain strategies have shown promise in addressing some of these obstacles, further research is still required to enhance the energy efficiency and feasibility of membrane-based processes, enabling their large-scale implementation in osmotic energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Rastgar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL), University of Alberta, 10-367 Donadeo Innovation Center for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Kazem Moradi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL), University of Alberta, 10-367 Donadeo Innovation Center for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Computational Fluid Engineering Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Cassie Burroughs
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 12-263 Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Arman Hemmati
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Computational Fluid Engineering Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Eric Hoek
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1593, United States
- Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Mohtada Sadrzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL), University of Alberta, 10-367 Donadeo Innovation Center for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
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14
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Ouyang X, Huang C, Cheng S, Zhang P, Chen W. Microfluidic-Based Continuous Fabrication of Ultrathin Hydrogel Films with Controllable Thickness. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:2905. [PMID: 37447551 DOI: 10.3390/polym15132905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrathin hydrogel films composed of cross-linked polymer networks swollen by water, with soft and moisturized features similar to biological tissue, play a vital role in flexible biosensors and wearable electronics. However, achieving efficient and continuous fabrication of such films remains a challenge. Here, we present a microfluidic-based strategy for the continuous fabrication of free-standing ultrathin hydrogel films by using laminar flow, which can be precisely controlled in the micrometer scale. Compared with conventional methods, the microfluidic-based method shows advantages in producing hydrogel films with a high homogeneity as well as maintaining the structural integrity, without the need of supporting substrates and sophisticated equipment. This strategy allows the precise control over the thickness of the hydrogel films ranging from 15 ± 0.2 to 39 ± 0.5 μm, by adjusting the height of the microfluidic channels, with predictable opportunities for scaling up. Therefore, our strategy provides a facile route to produce advanced thin polymer films in a universal, steerable, and scalable manner and will promote the applications of thin polymer films in biosensors and wearable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhi Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sha Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Pengchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Wuhan University of Technology Xiangyang Demonstration Zone, Xiangyang 441000, China
- Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
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Yao B, Hussain S, Ye Z, Peng X. Electrodeposited MOFs Membrane with In Situ Incorporation of Charged Molecules for Osmotic Energy Harvesting. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207559. [PMID: 36725315 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Ion-selective membranes are considered as the promising candidates for osmotic energy harvesting. However, the fabrication of highly perm-selective membrane is the major challenge. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with well-defined nanochannels along functional charged groups show great importance to tackle this problem. Here, a series of dense sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) incorporated MOFs composite membranes (PSS@MOFs) on a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane via in situ anodic electrodeposition process are developed. Benefiting to the novel structural design of the confined Ag layer, PSS@MOFs dense composite membrane with less defects formed. The sulfonated nanochannels of the PSS@MOFs composite membrane provided rapid and selective transport of cations due to the enhanced electrostatic interaction between the permeating ions and MOFs. While osmotic energy conversion, 860 nm thick negatively charged PSS@MOFs composite membrane achieves an ultrahigh cation transfer number of 0.993 and energy conversion efficiency of 48.8% at a 100-fold salinity gradient. Moreover, a large output power of 2.90 µW has been achieved with an ultra-low internal resistance of 999 Ω, employing an effective area of 12.56 mm2 . This work presents a promising strategy to construct a high-performance MOFs-based osmotic energy harvesting system for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, ERC of Membrane and Water Treatment, MOE, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Shabab Hussain
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, ERC of Membrane and Water Treatment, MOE, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Zhizhen Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, ERC of Membrane and Water Treatment, MOE, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Optoelectronic and Nanomaterials, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou, 325006, P. R. China
| | - Xinsheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, ERC of Membrane and Water Treatment, MOE, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Optoelectronic and Nanomaterials, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou, 325006, P. R. China
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16
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Rahman MM. Membranes for Osmotic Power Generation by Reverse Electrodialysis. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:164. [PMID: 36837667 PMCID: PMC9963266 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the utilization of the selective ion transport through porous membranes for osmotic power generation (blue energy) has received a lot of attention. The principal of power generation using the porous membranes is same as that of conventional reverse electrodialysis (RED), but nonporous ion exchange membranes are conventionally used for RED. The ion transport mechanisms through the porous and nonporous membranes are considerably different. Unlike the conventional nonporous membranes, the ion transport through the porous membranes is largely dictated by the principles of nanofluidics. This owes to the fact that the osmotic power generation via selective ion transport through porous membranes is often referred to as nanofluidic reverse electrodialysis (NRED) or nanopore-based power generation (NPG). While RED using nonporous membranes has already been implemented on a pilot-plant scale, the progress of NRED/NPG has so far been limited in the development of small-scale, novel, porous membrane materials. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the membrane design concepts of nanofluidic porous membranes for NPG/NRED. A brief description of material design concepts of conventional nonporous membranes for RED is provided as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mushfequr Rahman
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Institute of Membrane Research, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
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17
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Xu Y, Zhu Y, Qiu Q, Qi Z, Liu S, Weng J, Shen J. Development of Mixed-Dimensional Membranes Comprising Halloysite Nanotubes and Kevlar Aramid Nanofiber for Enhanced Small-Molecule Dye/Salt Separation. Ind Eng Chem Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c04103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Xu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, China
| | - Yuying Zhu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, China
| | - Qite Qiu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, China
| | - Zhifu Qi
- Zhejiang Energy Group R & D Co., Ltd, Hangzhou311121, China
| | - Shenghui Liu
- Zhejiang Energy Group R & D Co., Ltd, Hangzhou311121, China
| | - Jianquan Weng
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, China
| | - Jiangnan Shen
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou310014, China
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18
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Wang S, Wang Z, Fan Y, Meng X, Wang F, Yang N. Toward explicit anion transport nanochannels for osmotic power energy using positive charged MXene membrane via amination strategy. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.121203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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